In preparation for Saturday's class in Eldridge, IA, I finished a skein of merino/silk/cashmere fiber that I'd started on my last trip to Texas. Unfortunately I hadn't worked too much on it but this got me motivated.
This is just off the spindle and pre-washed so it's still pretty jumpy. It's spun quite fine and has 2 plies. I weighed it before I threw it in the wash and it topped the scales at 3/4 ounce (11g) and spun to 120 yards. That works out to the equivalent of 2,560 yards to the pound. Now part of that is the fineness but some of that is because the silk and cashmere are supremely light and soft and cozy. I can't wait for it to dry. This is the same fiber as I used to spin the fingering weight that I'm going to use to make fair isle patterned gloves.
I have to say, I wasn't so crazy about the colorway for myself but it will make a great gift for someone. I'm planning to knit a scarf using a nice, basic, balanced lace pattern like a feather and fan or some such. I think the movement of that sort of pattern will make the most of the color movement in the yarn. I'll keep you posted.
You know, I'm seeing more and more of the merino/silk and merino/silk/cashmere blends. If you've never tried them, I would encourage you to do it. Although the cashmere is short stapled, when it's mixed with the merino and silk, both of which have a longer staple, the spinning isn't as challenging as you'd think. And it can't be anything but rewarding to have something so decadent in your hands as the final yarn is.
